In the Thicke of it

Robin Thicke has no problem calling himself a white soul man. He has no problem singing at fashion shows. But he is a little intimidated about following his wife, Paula Patton, into acting. He just wrapped his first film role in the drama "Abby in the Summer," starring Jaime Pressly.

Thicke, known for the R&B chart-toppers "Sex Therapy" and "Lost Without U," and Boston pop duo Karmin, known for the dance-pop hit "Brokenhearted," will provide live music Friday for Macy's annual Glamorama, a fashion-and-music fundraiser for the Children's Cancer Research Fund, at the Orpheum.

Thicke, 35, who has lots of cousins in the Twin Cities and Fargo, answered a few quick questions this week.

Q Why do a movie?

A I've written a script before. I'm actually making a short film right now. I just love cinema. My wife and I talk about it all the time. I felt like it was a natural thing for me. Something dangerous and exciting.

Q Talk about your sense of fashion.

A I did the Johnny Cash thing every day. I pretty much wore black every day for about four or five years. Then the last couple of years, I've been having a lot more fun and taking a lot of chances and using a lot more color. Just thinking of fashion as an expression of how I feel that day.

A My father [TV actor Alan Thicke] being a comedic writer and living in comedy his whole life. And my uncle [Todd Thicke] is the producer and head writer of "America's Funniest Home Videos," since its inception. So naturally every night at the dinner table it was: Who's got the best one-liner?

Q What is the most Canadian thing about you?

A I was actually a minor part of hockey history. Wayne Gretzky was staying at my father's house while my dad was on vacation and I guess I was 11 years old. So I'm getting ready to go to baseball camp and Wayne and [his wife] Janet are staying in the master bedroom and the phone rings at about 7 o'clock in the morning and it's Bruce McNall, owner of the [Los Angeles] Kings.

He says, "I need to talk to Wayne." I said, "He's sleeping right now; can I take a message?" He goes, "No. I need to go talk to him right now. You gotta go wake him up." So I knock on the door, "Wayne! Bruce is on the phone."

I answered the phone the morning Wayne Gretzky was traded [from Edmonton to Los Angeles]. That's as close to Canadian fame as I get.